Push button switch construction



Aug. 22, 1933. Q MILLER 1,923,450

PUSH BUTTON SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 16, 1930 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 22, 1933 PUSH BUTTON SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Christian Miller, New York, N. Y., assignor to Edwards and Company, Inc., a Corporation of New York Application December 16, 1930 Serial No. 502,649

10 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for controlling electrical circuits, and more particularly to push button switch construction. 7

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a compact, rugged and simple push button switch construction that will be of dependable and efiicient action in use. Another object is to provide a push button switch construction capable of rapid assembly and inexpensive manufacture and well adapted to withstand the varying conditions of hard practical use. Another object is to provide a simple and reliable push button switch construction adapted particularly to break one circuit and close another circuit when 15 the device is actuated and to provide a construction of this nature in which parts of relatively heavy material may be employed and the circuitcontrolling parts dependably maintained in good condition, all without sacrifice of compactness of arrangement and construction and without undue complication. Another object is to provide a construction of the above-mentioned character in which assembly of certain of the moving parts may be dependably maintained in a simple and thoroughly practical and reliable manner. Other objects will be in part obvious or in part pointed out hereinafter.

. The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, as will be exemplified in the structure to'be hereinafter desoribed'and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of my invention, 7

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the assembled push button switch showing the parts in their normal position ready for manual actuation;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevati0n,'as seen from the rear of the device as the latter is shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical central sectional view, as M seen along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and Figure 4 is an end view, as seen from the righthand end of' Figure 3.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the draw- Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Figures 1 and 3, there is shown a metallic sleeve-like member 10 having a reduced end portion 11 which is exteriorly threaded to receive a threaded collar or nut 12 between which and the shoulder 13 on the sleeve 10 a Wall plate,

' section, and extending centrally of and along the panel, or any other suitably apertured support may be clamped to hold the assembled push button construction in place. a

The sleeve-like member 10 is generally cylindrical in shape and into its larger and 'right-, 0 hand end is fitted and received a substantially cylindrical member 14 made of a suitable solid dielectric material, such as hard rubber, bakelite, or the like, the member 14 being suitably reduced in diameter as at 15 to fit into the righthand end of the sleeve 10 and having otherwise an outside diameter substantially the same-as the outside diameter of the larger portion of, the sleeve 10, as is clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3. Suitable securing means, such as screws 16, hold the sleeve 10 and the member 14in assembled relation.

The member 14 is extended in a direction to the right, as viewed in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and. toward the observer viewing Figure 4, as at 1'7, this extension 1'7 being of a generally rectangular shape, as viewed in Figure 4, and extending across the right-hand and otherwise circular end of the insulating member 14. The member 17 bulges outwardly in a general radial direction adjacent its middle portion, as at l8,' and is preferably. integrally formed'with the member 14.

Extending centrally through the bulging portion 18 of the extension 1'? and preferably alined with the axis of the otherwise cylindrical insulating member 14 is a hole 19 that is square in crosssection, as is clearly indicated in Figure 4. This hole 19 connects, at its left-hand end (see Figure 3) with a, recess 20, preferably round in crossaxis of the insulating member 14. V

Slidably guided along the inside cylindrical surface 21 of the reduced portion 11 of the metal sleeve 10 is a push button 22, generally cylindrical in shape and made of any suitable insulating material, such as bakelite, for example. The button 22 has molded, into its right-hand end, as viewed in Figure 3,'a metal insert 23, that is interiorly threaded to receivethe left-hand end of 'a plunger 24, square in cross-section (see Figure 4). Plunger 24 extends in a direction toward the right through the recess 20 in the member 14 and through the square hole 19 in the extension 17, the latter thus nicely guiding the right-hand end of the plunger 24 while the sliding fit of the push 105 button 22 within the portion 11 of the metal sleeve 10 insures a nice guiding of the left-hand end of the plunger 24 as the latter is moved lengthwise of itself either in response to manual essure exerted in a direction toward the right or in response to the retractive effort of a coil 7 spring 25 that extends about the plunger 24:, leihand end'oi the spring 25 abutting against the push button 23 and the right-hand end thereof abutting against the extension 1''! which :itenos substantially acrossthe right-hand end 01 the recess 29. 1

The right-hand end of the plunger 24., (see Fig-.,

tially the same as the length of the extension 17,;

in a direction crosswise of the insulating member 14.

Preferably the diameters of the meinberlil and of the recess 26 the plunger 24 are so proportioned that the member 2"! is snugly received. within the opening 26 so as to nicely aline and hold; the member 27 at substantially right angles to the axis of the plunger 24. The contactengaging bar 27 is reduced in diameter as at 'to' provide a space within which the end of a screw 29, threaded into the right-hand end of plunger 24 may extend. Interposed between the head of the screw 29 and the right-handend face or the plunger 24 is a loci; washer 30 of any suitable construction. The reduction in diameter of the portion 28 and the length of the screw 29 are preferably so proportioned that, when t ,e screw 29 'is driven home and securely tight" ened up to'compress the lock washer, the end of the screw.29 does not engage the metal bar 2'? though this end of the screw extendssufici ntly 'into the space between the opening 26 and the reduced portion 28 toprevent the member, 2'? from sliding or from being forced out of the re cess 26. By this preferred construction I am enabled to achieve 'a very dependable permanency andj'reliability of assembly since the" clamping of the lock washer'Si) to the end race of the plunger 24 by the action of the relatively lar-headed screw '29 provides far greater areas or rrictio'nal contact for holding action than could otherwise be provided. v I

The round bar 2'7 will be seen to extend to either side of. the plunger 24, as is clearlyshown in Figures 3 and 4 and its respective ends coact with contactfmembers adapted to be connected into an appropriate electrical circuit or circuits. Byway of illustration I have shown one pair of contact members 31-62 with which the-contactbridging member 27 coacts when it is held, by spring 25, in the position shown in Figures 1 and 3'and another pair oi contact members 33-34 with which the member 27 coasts when moved in a direction toward the rig-rt as, for example, when the push button 22 is depressed against the action of the spring25. v i V 1 Considering now the construction andimounting of these contact members andv also certain features of coaction thereof with the contacts bridging member 27, it might first be pointed out that thelmetal bar or bridging member 27 overlies the transversely extendin'g'extension 17, the latter presenting preferablya substantially flat end surface 17 (Figures 1 and 3) to one side'or" the square hole 19 and presenting, at its portion on the other'side of the hole '19, a concaved surface 'l'l (Figures '1 and'Z) within which the one end (the upper end,'a's viewed in Figures 3 and l) of the contact-bridging bar 27 may be seated unde the urge of the coil spring 25. of curvature of the concaved seat 17 in the extension 17 is preferably the same as the radius of the member 27. The contact 31,- madeoi' a suitable spring sheet metal, suchas phosphor bronze, for example, is generally L-shaped, having a base portion 31 seated against the righ -hand end face of the insulating member 14 and secured to the. latter as by screws (see also Figure l) the base portion 31 being suitably shaped or curved, as is better shown in Figure 4, to be readily accommodated against the end face of the member 14. Extending at right angles from the base portion 3i (see Figure l) is a relativel long arm portion 31 the arm portion 31 extending substantiailyfiatwise along the transverse side face of the extension 17. This arm portion 31 is bent over substantially upon itself, as at 31 (see Figure l) seas to overlap the flat end face l? at one side of the extension 17. p a

The contact member 32 is substantially similarly formed, having a base portion 32 secured 'againstthe end face of the member 14 by screws 36 and an elongated portion 32 extending at right angles to the base portion 32 and along the other transverseside face of the extension 1'7, being bent over inwardly as at 32? into overlapping relation with respect to the flat end face 17?, as is clearly shown in Figure l. it is with the bent-over portions 31.and 32 that the one end (the lower end, viewed in Figures 3 and 4) of the bridging member 27 coacts. These portions are urged toward each other, due to the resiliency of the-spring metal of which the contact members 31 and 32 are made, and a high degree of spring action. of this character is achieved by suchfeatures, for example, as

the rather substantial lengthwhich the arms 31 and 82 may be given, as is clearly shown in Figure 1. These arms extend along the respective sides or" the extension l7, the latter'acting as a stop for limiting the movement of the spring arms toward each other. I

The radius I The portions 31 and 32 are inclined to the longitudinal axis or" the construction, thus forming a V-shaped gap into which the contactbridging member 27 may ride under the urge of the, spring 25 when the pushbutton 22 is released, the round cross-section of the member 27 coacting further to insure a ready entry of the member 27 into this \l-shaped gap. Moreover,

the portions 31 and 32 are of substantial length end portion (the upper end portion, as viewed in' Figure 3) is in engagement with, portions 33 and 24 of the spring contact members 33 audit, respectively, for closure of the circuit in which these contacts may be included. These portions 33 and 34 are substantially parallel to each other and of substantial length, being connected to the side arm portions 33 and 3 9 (see Figure 2), of the spring contacts by inclined portions 33 and 3 i ,"respectively, these inclined portions forming /-shaped guideswithwhich the round rubbing orscraping engagement therewith be:

fore coming to rest to insure that the coacting surfaces are clean and brightand thusare capable of maintainin efiectively the closure of the circuit in which the contacts are included.

The side portions 33 and 34 are connected to base portions 33 and 34 (see Figure 4) respectively, these base portions resting fiatwise against the right-hand end face of the insulating member 14 (see Figure 1) and being secured thereto by suitable securing devices, such as screws 36, 3'7 and 38, respectively. The resiliency of the metal of which the contacts 33 and34 are made merges the latter in a direction toward each other, the extension 1? acting as a stop to limit the movement of these parts toward each other (see Figure 2). The gap between the portions 33 and 34 is thus maintained'at a minimumand preferably materially less than the diameter of the contact-bridging member 27, the latter in coaction with the inclined portions 33 and 34 (Figure 2) causing the separation of the portions 33 and 34 to permit the member 27 to enter therebetween.

The member 27 is heldin its extreme righthand position, as shown indotted lines in Figure 3, as longas the push button22 is held depressed, the left-hand end face of the reduced portion 15 of the insulating member 14 (see. Figure 3) act ing as a stop to limit the extentto which the push button 22 may be depressed, the parts being preferably proportioned that the m ember 27 is halted in engagement with the portions, 33 and 34 after having partaken of a rubbing or scraping contact therewith of substantial extent.

When the push button 22 is released the spring 25 moves the parts intothe position shown in Figure 3, thus efiecting a-disengagement oi the contact-bridging bar 27 from the contacts 33 and 34 and bringing it into circuit-closing relation-to the contacts 31 and 32. The movement of the bar 27 is halted by its engagement with the righthand end (as viewed in Figures 1, 2 and 3) of the extension. 17, one end portion .of the member 27 resting against theflat end face 1'7 (Figure 1) at one end of the extension v1'? and the other end of the member 2'7 seating itself into the concave end face 1'7 at the other transverse end of the extension 17. Thus, the retractive effort of the spring 25 is evenly distributed to and taken up by theopposed portions of the member 27, one on each side of the plunger 24, and thus the parts are nicely maintained in their proper alinement.

. The conductors connecting the various contact members into the electrical circuit or circuits in which the device is intended to function may be connected to the contact members in any suitable manner, for example, by utilizing one of the two screws which secures the base portion of each 'permit the conductors to be soldered thereto.

Thus, each contact member may individually be associated with a conductor.

It may sometimes be desirableto have one con-.

a tact member of each pair connected to the same conductor and in that case I preferably provide a bridging strap 40 (Figure4) of sheet metal which bridges the base portions of, for example,

contacts 34 and 32 and is held in place by the securing screws 36 and 38; in that case-a single soldering lug 39 suffices to connect the contacts 32 and 34 to the circuit. g

It will thus be seen that there has been pro.- vided in this invention a push button switch con struction in which the various objects of this invention, together with many thoroughly practical advantages, are successfully achieved. It will,

be seen that the construction is rugged, compact and of thoroughly dependableaction and that it is well adapted to meet the varying conditions of hard practical use. Moreover, it will be seen that a number of circuits may be controlled and that, in the preferred arrangement of the contact, an actuation ofthe device achieves the closing of one circuit and the breaking of another.

I As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In push button switch construction, in commember and supported exteriorly of said in-- sulating member and alined crosswise thereof; and a contact-bridgingmember carried by the end of said plunger for coaction with said pairs of contacts. 1 i

2. In push button switch construction, in com-- bination, a housingmade up of a metallic shell having means for securing it to a wall or the like and an insulatingmember secured tosaid housing, said member having an opening of polygonal cross-section at its end remote from said shell; a push button slidably supported bysaid shell and having a plunger of polygonal cross-sections);- tending through said opening in said insulating member; a spring for urging said push button in a direction outwardly of said shell; 9. member carried by said plunger and eXtending'transverse-' 1y of said insulating member; a plurality of pairs of contact members carried by. said insulating member and with which said cross bar coacts, certain of said contacts being arranged to be engaged by said cross bar when the latter is at one point in its stroke and certain other of said contacts being arranged to be engaged by said cross bar when the latter is at another point in its stroke; and an insulating barrier extending between contactmembers of said pairs.

v 3. In push button switch construction, in combination, a housing made up of a metallic shell having means for securing it to' a wall or the like and an insulating member secured to said hous ing, said member having an opening of polygonal cross-section at its end remote from said shell; a push button slidably supported by said shelland having a plunger'of polygonal cross-section extending through said opening in'said insulating member; a spring for urging said push button in a direction outwardly of said shell; an insulatingbarrier projecting rearwardly of said insulating member and transversely thereof; a plurality of pairs of contacts associated with said insulat ing'member', certain'of saidcontacts'being on one side-'of said barrier and certain on the other side thereof and one pair of contactsbeing positioned morc'remotely from said shell than another pair ofoontacts; said contacts being fitted 'intoand positioned in the angles between said barrier and the end .wall of said insulating member; and meanscarried by said plunger for successively engaging said contactsas "said plunger is moved.

4. In push button switch construction, in com binati'on, a substantially cylindrical insulating member having an opening extending therethrough substantially; coincident. with its axis and having a rearward extension extending transversely thereof; a plunger passing through said opening and having contact-engaging means extending transversely thereof and substantially' overlying said transverse extension; a

spring for urging said plunger forwardly of said insulating member; and a plurality of pairs of opposed spring contacts carried by'said insulating member for coaction with. said contact-engaging means, certain of said spring contacts beingpositioned atone side of said extension and certain others being positioned at the other side of said extensiornthe inherent resiliency of said spring contacts urging them toward said extension-and'said extension limiting the efiect of said resiliency;

' 5. In push button switch construction, in combination, a substantially cylindrical insulating member having an opening extending therethrough substantially coincident with its axis and having a rearward extension extending transversely thereof; a plunger passing through said opening and having contact-engaging means extending transversely thereof and substantially overlying said transverse extension; a spring for urging said plunger forwardly of said insulating member; and a plurality of pairs of spring contacts carried by said insulating member for coaction with said' contact-engaging means, certain of said spring contacts being positioned at one side, of said extension and certain others being positioned at the other side of said extension, one pair of spring contacts being of a greater length than the other pair of spring contacts so that one pair is engaged by said engaging means atone point inthe stroke of said plunger and the other pair is engaged atanother point in the stroke of said plunger, and all of said contacts extending beyond' the end of said extension, said extension being of such alength that it limits forward movement of said plunger at one of said points in the stroke thereof.

'6. In push button swifch construction, in combination, a substantially cylindrical insulating member having an opening extending therethrough substantially coincident with its axis and having a rearward extension extending transversely thereof; a plunger passing through said opening and having contact-engaging means extending transversely thereof and substantially overlying said transverse extension; a spring for ti'ally alined on one side of said extensionand having portions bent inwardly and beyond the end of said extension andthereby positioned in the path of movement: of saidcontact-engaging means; and a plurality of springcontact members substantially aligned along the other side of said extension and having portions bent inwardly and beyond the end of said extension and therebypositioned in the path of: movement of said contact-engaging means, said extensionforming means for limiting the movement of certain of said contact members toward each other.

7.-In push button switch construction, in combination, a housing made up-of a metallic shell having means for securing it to a wall or the like and an insulating member' of cylindrical shape secured to said housing, therearmo'st end of said insulating memberhaving a rearward extension extending centrally transversely thereof and having at its rear end a centrally positioned opening, a push button slidably carried'by' said metallic shell, a plunger secured to-the-inner side ofsaid pushbutton and extending through said insulating member and through the opening in the rear end thereof, a spring acting upon said push button and plunger normally to hold them in forward position, a transverse conducting member at the rear endof said plunger, said conducting member overlying said rearward" extensionon both sides of the-opening through said insulating member, said spring normally causing saidconducting member to beseated'against said rearward transverse extension, a pair of L-shaped spring contacts fitted into the angle between the rear face of said insulating member and a side face" of said rearward" extension, a'pair of" L- shaped contact members fitted into'the angle between the other side face of said rearward extension andthe end face of saidinsulating 7 member and respectively juxtaposed to said firstmentioned contact members, all of saidcontaot membersextendingbeyond said extension and being" inherently resilient and urged toward said extension, and all of said contacts having portions said opening and having contact-bridging means extending transversely thereof and substantially overlying said transverse extension; a plurality of pairs of spring contacts. carried by said insulating member, said contacts extending alongside of said extension and beyond the latter and having their end portions. shaped to be engaged by said contact-bridging means when the latter is moved-by said plunger; means for preventing. rotation of said plunger; and a spring acting on said plunger in a directionnormall'y to seat it against said extension,

9. In push button switch construction, in combination, a substantially cylindrical insulating member having an opening extending, therethrough substantially coincident with. its. axis and; having a rearward extension. extending transversely thereof; a spring-retracted; plunger passing through said opening and having con-- tact-bridging means extending transversely thereof and substantially overlying sai'ditransverse extension; means for preventing rotation. of said plunger; thereby to hold said bridging means an opening therein through which extends a contact-engaging member recessed intermediate itsends; a screw extending through a portion of said plunger and into the recess of said contactengaging member, and means for locking said screw to said plunger, said screw being of a length insufiicient to clamp said contact-engaging member.

CHRISTIAN MILLER. 

